Strong Foundations in the First Years of School: What Ofsted’s Latest Report Means for Early Education

The earliest years of a child’s schooling are critical. Ofsted’s (Office for Standards in Education in the UK) October 2024 report, Strong Foundations in the First Years of School, shines a spotlight on the important role Reception and Key Stage 1 (the equivalent to Kindergarten and Grades 1 and 2) play in setting a child up for lifelong learning. Crucially, the report also highlights where schools are falling short and provides a roadmap for improvement. Here’s Mrs Wordsmith’s breakdown of Ofsted’s key points. 

Why Do Early Foundations Matter?

High-quality early education is proven to boost not only academic achievement, but also children’s health and well-being. The benefits are especially pronounced for those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with delayed language and communication skills. However, Ofsted finds that many children – particularly the most vulnerable – often leave the first years of school without the foundational knowledge and skills they need to thrive as they progress through the school system and beyond. 

Where Are Schools Struggling Most?

1. Lack of Clarity in the Curriculum

Many schools do not clearly identify the essential knowledge and skills children must master in the first years of school. Without clarity at the top, teachers are left unsure about what to teach, leading to overloaded curriculums filled with activities that don’t help children build the foundational skills they need.

2. Complex Tasks Introduced Too Early

Children are often asked to tackle complex reading and writing tasks before they have mastered the basics – such as forming letters, spelling, or composing simple sentences. This is particularly problematic for those with lower starting points, who need more explicit teaching and practice.

3. Ineffective Teaching Methods

Teaching approaches sometimes fail to help children remember and use what they’ve learned. There’s often too little practice before moving onto the next subject, and tasks are not always broken down into manageable steps. Play-based learning can be hugely effective, but when it’s not introduced correctly, it simply keeps children busy without supporting real development.

4. Weak Assessment Practices

Children are often assessed in a way that reflects what material has been covered rather than what’s truly been understood. Crucially, gaps in foundational knowledge are not always identified or addressed early enough, making it hard for children to catch up.

5. Insufficient Focus on Conduct and Attitudes

Some schools assume good conduct and social skills will develop naturally and do not need to be explicitly taught. This can lead to low expectations and missed opportunities to help children manage their emotions, build friendships, and thrive in the classroom environment.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Children who start school with the lowest levels of knowledge and confidence – often those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special educational needs – are most affected by weaknesses in curriculum, teaching, and assessment. Without targeted support, the gap between them and their peers widens, making later learning even harder.

What Do Effective Schools Teach Us?

Ofsted identifies several practices that make a real difference to those first few years of learning in school:

• Clear, sequenced curriculum: The best schools set out exactly what children need to learn and ensure all staff understand and work towards these goals.
• Explicit teaching and practice: Foundational skills are taught directly and rehearsed until fluent, with tasks broken down into small, manageable steps.
• Responsive assessment: Teachers quickly spot misunderstandings and provide extra support where needed, rather than simply moving on.
• Purposeful play: Play-based learning is planned with clear learning goals, and adults actively engage with children to extend language and thinking.
• Explicit teaching of conduct and routines: Schools teach, model, and reinforce good conduct, social skills, and classroom routines.

Moving Forward: A Call to Action

The report from Ofsted is both a warning and an opportunity. While many schools understand the importance of strong early foundations, too many children – especially the most vulnerable – are being left behind. Ofsted’s message is clear: every child deserves a curriculum and teaching that secures the basics, nurtures curiosity, and prepares them for the next stage of learning. Here at Mrs Wordsmith, we’re committed to providing teachers with the tools they need to equip their students to be confident readers, writers and storytellers.

For example, our Narrative Journey is a bright, engaging teaching program that equips children with 270 descriptive words they can use in their stories. It’s also a perfect way to decorate a classroom wall! Our vocabulary video game, Word Tag, is a popular choice in schools as not only is it fun for students, but it’s an extremely powerful learning tool for teachers. Set specific words to appear in the game, track student progress and identify themes or words where children are falling short. Skateboarding and graffiti have never been so educational!

Exclusive Schools Offer: Get Word Tag for School Free!

For a limited time only, we’re offering our Word Tag video game for free to schools. What’s more, we’ve loaded the game up with the 270 storytelling words from our Narrative Journey – also for free! A National Literacy Trust pilot study revealed kids who used our Narrative Journey resources saw a 50% improvement in their vocabulary in just one term. It’s never been a better time to get Word Tag: it’s free, it comes with all the words from our Narrative Journey, and you can integrate it with your school’s educational apps too. With summer fast approaching, Word Tag is the perfect way to keep kids entertained as they learn.